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Smithsonian Gets Warner Bros. Movie Props No One Else Wants

What happens to movie props from superhero films? If they were used in movies that no one wanted to see, they go to the Smithsonian.

The Smithsonian has picked up some superhero film memorabilia, particularly related to the Batman and Superman film franchises. The bad news? The props they managed to snag aren’t exactly anyone’s first pick. Or second. Or third.

Warner Bros. has donated more than 30 items of movie memorabilia to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Among them, the Batman mask that George Clooney wore in the 1997 film Batman Robin, the BDSM-themed catsuit worn by Halle Berry in Catwoman (a film so painfully off the mark, it may as well have been titled The Grapes of Wrath 2), and a suit worn by Christopher Reeve for SupermanIII.

Other items Warner Bros. donated to the Smithsonian were the puppets used in Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride and the suit worn by Paul Newman in The Helen Morgan Story (yeah, I’ve never heard of it either, but woo hoo! Paul Newman).

The Smithsonian presumably inherited these items because they could not be auctioned off, or the mere sight of them just opened old wounds for the studio.

But the Smithsonian is just thrilled to inherit such memorabilia from Warner Bros. Museum director John Gray released a statement regarding the museum’s acquisition, saying:

“At the National Museum of American History we seek to tell an inclusive American story. Films are an integral part of this culture and of our daily lives, shaping how we perceive ourselves as Americans. The legacy of Warner Bros. is an important part of American history and these objects help us to tell that story.”

Maybe you should watch those movies before you sign any papers, Mr. Gray.

What say you? Would you be thrilled to inherit Warner Bros. movie memorabilia, even if it was from Batman Robin?